In this episode, Bear breaks down essential UX and product design terms, providing a roadmap for anyone starting their journey in the field. From “Agile” to “Kanban,” “UX” to “UI,” we dive into practical definitions, explore how these terms play out in real-world projects, and discuss the critical role of shared vocabulary in building cohesive, user-centered products. Disclaimer: This content was generated via NoteBookLM AI and based on NNGroup’s UX glossary pages, intended purely for learning. There may be occasional AI-generated inaccuracies, so please consult the original articles for accurate details. Links to the original NN Group glossary articles are available in the show notes.

Show Notes:

Highly suggest reading the original Nielsen Norman Group articles for accurate information:

• Agile Glossary

• Research Methods Glossary

• Quantitative UX Glossary

• Typography Terms in UX

• Visual Design Cheat Sheet

• UX Deliverables Glossary

• Product UX Glossary

Nielsen Norman Group UX Glossary Terms

I. Agile Development (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/agile-glossary/)

• Agile Development: Defines Agile as an iterative approach to software development that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer value.
• Scrum: Outlines the Scrum framework, a popular agile methodology with specific roles, events, and artifacts.
• Sprint: Details the sprint cycle within Scrum, a time-boxed period for completing a set amount of work.
• Kanban: Explores the Kanban method, a visual system for managing and improving workflow.
• Lean UX: Explains Lean UX principles and practices, focused on minimizing waste and maximizing user value.

II. User Research Methods (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/research-methods-glossary/)

• Usability Testing: Defines usability testing as a method to evaluate a product or service by testing it with representative users.
• Heuristic Evaluation: Explains heuristic evaluation, a method where experts identify usability issues based on established principles.
• Eye Tracking: Describes eye tracking, a technique for measuring eye movements to understand user attention and behavior.
• Card Sorting: Defines card sorting, a method used to understand users' mental models and group information.
• A/B Testing: Explains A/B testing, a method for comparing two versions of a design to see which performs better.
• Tree Testing: Defines tree testing, a method for evaluating the findability of information within a website or app’s structure.

III. Quantitative UX Research (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/quant-ux-glossary/)

• Statistical Significance: Explains the concept of statistical significance and its role in determining the reliability of research findings.
• Confidence Interval: Defines confidence intervals and how they are used to estimate the range of possible values for a population parameter.
• Sample Size: Discusses the importance of sample size in quantitative research and how to determine an appropriate sample size.
• Conversion Rate: Defines conversion rate as the percentage of users who complete a desired action, such as making a purchase.
• Task Success Rate: Explains task success rate as a measure of how effectively users can complete specific tasks within a product.

IV. Typography in UX Design (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/typography-terms-ux/)

• Font Family: Defines font families and explores the different types, including serif, sans-serif, and display fonts.
• Font Weight: Explains font weight, the relative lightness or darkness of a typeface, and its impact on readability.
• Line Height (Leading): Defines leading, the vertical space between lines of text, and its effect on readability.
• Kerning: Explores kerning, the adjustment of space between individual characters, to improve legibility.
• Tracking: Defines tracking, the adjustment of space between characters across an entire block of text, to influence density and readability.

V. Visual Design Principles (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/visual-design-cheat-sheet/)

• Visual Hierarchy: Explains the use of visual cues like size, color, and contrast to guide users' attention and understanding.
• Gestalt Principles: Outlines Gestalt principles, such as proximity, similarity, and closure, and their application in design.
• Color Theory: Discusses color theory, including color harmony, contrast, and emotional associations of colors.
• White Space (Negative Space): Explores the use of white space to improve readability and create visual breathing room.
• Grid Systems: Defines grid systems as frameworks for organizing content on a page, enhancing consistency and visual flow.

VI. UX Deliverables (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-deliverables-glossary/)

• Persona: Defines user personas as fictional representations of target users, capturing their characteristics and needs.
• User Journey Map: Explains user journey maps as visualizations of a user’s interactions with a product or service over time.
• Wireframe: Defines wireframes as low-fidelity representations of a design’s structure and layout.
• Prototype: Describes prototypes as interactive representations of a design, allowing for testing and user feedback.
• Usability Test Report: Explains usability test reports as documents summarizing findings and recommendations from usability testing.

VII. Product UX (Source: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/product-ux-glossary/)

• Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Defines MVP as a version of a product with just enough features to attract early-adopter customers and validate a product idea.
• Product-Market Fit: Explains product-market fit as the degree to which a product satisfies market demand and meets customer needs.
• User Onboarding: Discusses user onboarding as the process of helping new users get started with a product and understand its value.
• Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV): Defines customer lifetime value as the predicted net profit attributed to the entire future relationship with a customer.
• Net Promoter Score (NPS): Explains Net Promoter Score as a metric that measures customer loyalty and satisfaction.